Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Then I made a huge mistake. I turned and came face to face with him.
Harrison was inches away. When his eyes fell to my mouth, I knew I was in trouble. Serious trouble.
What in the hell was I doing?
Emma was so close to me I could feel her hot breath. Her cheeks were a bright red and the way she stared up at me made me go hard instantly. Thank fuck I still had the apron on.
“Harrison.”
“Emma.”
She swallowed hard and was about to say something when the sound of little feet came running down the hallway, causing us both to take a few steps away from one another and break the strange trance that fell over both of us.
It was the cold water I needed to chase away the thoughts I had the moment Emma stepped into my bedroom. It had been a mistake to bring her in here. It had been too long since I’d been with a woman. The last was over six months ago. An old high school flame whom I’d bumped into at a bar with Preston and Doug. We both only wanted one thing. Sex. We’d met up a few times after that and it had been exactly what I had needed at the time. Mindless, no-strings-attached sex. When she hinted she had wanted something more, I quickly broke things off between us. I wasn’t looking for a relationship. Not when I had Noel to think about. Besides, Lynn wasn’t the type of woman I could ever see myself settling down with, and more importantly, be a mother to Noel.
But Emma was completely different from the other woman I had been with in the past. Her untamed curls and those soft brown eyes she hid behind her glasses made my entire body come to life anytime she was near me. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. And her body. Christ, that curvy body of hers would drive any man insane.
“Lunch is weady!” Noel called out as she came to a skidding halt between me and Emma.
“Oh,” Emma stated in a sexier-than-hell breathy voice. “I’m starving.”
Her eyes met mine and I raised my brows. I knew what I was doing. Playing with fire. But fuck if it wasn’t fun to watch her eyes darken with desire. And right on cue, the wall slammed down. Her eyes turned distant, and she stood ramrod straight. She was back to librarian Emma.
“For food. Just food. Only food. That’s the only thing I’m interested in.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I held up my hands. “Then let’s get some food in you.”
We spent the rest of the day at the kitchen table going over ideas for the dinner. I wasn’t one to put my daughter in front of the TV, but when Mom put a Disney movie on and Noel was instantly engrossed, she joined us in the planning.
I was stunned by how much we had gotten done. The table layout, with my mom’s help, was arranged a bit differently. Mom offered to talk to one of her friends who owned a flower shop about donating the flowers in exchange for advertisement. I called a good friend of mine who owned an Italian restaurant right on the outskirts of town and asked him if he knew anyone who could cater the dinner at a reduced cost. He laughed and emailed me a menu he had come up with right on the spot. The theme was Christmas in Italy, which Mom had suggested, and Emma had been on board with. I wasn’t sure if it was because her belly was full of lasagna and homemade tiramisu, or if Anthony’s menu won her over. I’d place a bet it was the latter.
Mom offered to clean up the kitchen while Emma and I talked about entertainment. She was sitting back in her chair taking a sip of tea when she suddenly looked at me.
“Christmas in Italy set during the 1940s. People can dress in vintage formal wear.”
“Oh, I love that idea!” Mom said as she rejoined us at the table. “It’s different, and I think people will love the change.”
Emma grinned from ear to ear. “Would we have to adjust the menu?”
Mom and I both shook our head as I said, “Not at all. I think Mom’s right and setting it in the 1940s would make it stand out from the plethora of other dinners that time of year that will be held in Boston.”
“I do too!” Emma agreed. Her eyes were lit with excitement. “What if we called it ‘A Wish from Christmas Past’.”
Mom clapped. “Emma, you missed your calling, darling!”
I laughed as Emma said, “Then it’s settled.”
Mom cleared her throat and said, “I’ve arranged for the two of you to look at the ballroom this evening at eight.”